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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bass — the fish
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. game — wild animals
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. game — a match
  8. mug — a face
  9. fine — all right
  10. mug — to rob
  11. fine — high quality
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mug — a cup
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. rash — a series
  21. bass — low music
  22. stem — to come from
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. stem — of a plant

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com